45
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
February. 1933
a family before leaving the breakfast table to begin the day’s work;, go to the God who is enough for every experience o f life. There is nothing He calls us to, no matter how great nor how small, for which He will not qualify us. He says, “ My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). And again, in Philippians 4:19, “ My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” This covers all problems. Edith had been sick for a long time. Hospitals and private physicians had helped her very little. One morn ing in emergency we called in a specialist. He examined her and said, “ An operation at once.” She had spent all her money, and we had little. We needed time to pray, so we told the doctor we would phone him at. noon. As we prayed, very definitely the Lord di rected us 'to send her. The ambulance came,, she was admitted, and we wrote a check fo r $32.50. This left
the need. Each month there has been just enough to meet the bills as they came due. Frequently we pay the rent and have only thirteen cents, five cents, and even three cents left—but always enough and to spare. Our first New Year’s verse for the Home was Ephe sians 3:20, “ Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Never a day has passed that we have not had special evidence o f the Lord’s love and chre—more, much more than we could ask or think. Our rent is paid in advance the first of each month. Dur ing the first summer o f our work, a certain month opened on Sunday. W e did not have enough on hand to pay that day. It was not needed that day, but we did need it the next. W e said, “ Lord, it’s your home, we’re just keeping it. I f the rent is not paid, the home closes.” Monday morning in the mail I received two letters from friends in the middle west. One had a check for $3.00 and the other a five-dollar bill. I brought out the books and found that, with what we had, this made $50.05. I paid the rent for July and had just five cents over. W e needed vegetables that day, and five cents would not buy them; but by going to the wholesale market we could get the vegetables from dealers there who often give them to us when we come after them. I had the carfare to go down, but how was I to get home? I thought of two milk bottle tickets I had from down town, so slipped two empty bottles into my bag, dressed for town, paid the conductor my last nickel, and asked for a transfer. When I reached town, I went to the two places, and at each received a nickel for the bottle. There was carfare home and five cents to spare. Walking over to the transfer point, I used the transfer and went to the wholesale market. Never had such a variety been given us there before. The meat man gave a five-pound roast and a big piece o f salt pork. The vegetable man gave carrots, peas, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, and cantaloupe. He put them into a new gunny sack, had the Jap sew it up with a handle, and I came home loaded. Never before in my life had a nickle gone so far. Little is much when God is in it. On October 11, 1924, under the Lord’s direction, we moved into an unfurnished nine-room house. W e had a bed or two, a little bedding, and perhaps fifteen dishes — no two alike. W e had no chairs— only a piano stool. W e started moving early in the morning, and by one o’clock were out o f the old house and into the new one. When dinner time came that night, we not only had a good meal, but each member of the family had a dish of some sort to eat from, and by using the piano stool, a high chair, and a rocker with the other four, chairs that had been given us that day, we each had a seat at the table. Some o f us used saucers and soup bowls, one had a platter and one a pie tin, but we each had a fork and a spoon—and knives enough to share up. Within the next few days, there began coming in furniture, dishes, bedding, etc. From that day to this, as the demand has grown, so also has the supply. Today we have twenty- one rooms and every one comfortably furnished. “ My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4 :19 ). If a girl comes needing hospital care or clinic treat ment, we see that she has it— and a place to stay after leaving the hospital. A few weeks here after an operation ordinarily puts the girl on her feet, and she is ready to go back to her work. Problems? Yes, plenty o f them. With well girls, working girls, sick girls, nervous girls, and girls o f every temperament— to be sure there are problems— for them and for u s ; but Christ is the Head o f the house, the Source o f our every supply. Daily we need wisdom, grace, patience, and love. Daily we go to this Source as
us a little over $1.00 on the Home account. Yet we knew it was the Father’s will and did not hesitate. : I was with her through the operation. A fter it was over, and during a little talk with the doctor as to the girl’s condi tion, he remarked, “ And now what shall we tell the office?” He knew our financial condition and that it had taken almost every cent we had to bring the girl to the hospital. “ How much do you think it will be?” “ As little as possible. Probably about $100.” “ Doctor, twenty-four hours ago we did not know this was ahead. I know we have done the right thing. This is Friday, I will let you know Monday.” About three that afternoon the girl was resting com fortably and I drove home. On my desk were two letters: one, the telephone bill, and the other a very ordinary looking envelope. I opened it—and there was a hundred- dollar check! It had been mailed the previous morning at the very hour that we were upon our knees. “ While they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isa. 65:24). And prayer does change things. One of our girls had been looking for work— rather unsuccessfully. We took the matter specially to the Lord, and He opened up a position in a department store. A fter a time, she be gan to have some rather unpleasant experiences with the department manager. She resented his advances and felt she must give up her work to escape him- The Lord had opened the place for her in answer to prayer, so we took this matter to Him also. As a part of our morning devo tions, we each draw a promise from the promise box. The next morning this particular girl’s verse was Isaiah 5 9 :19: “ When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the [Continued on page 52]
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs